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Master of Public Administration

The Public Administration Master's degree program at Marist College prepares innovative leaders of public and nonprofit organizations with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for effectively managing in a diverse, technologically engaged and global society. While enrolled in the Master's in Public Administration graduate degree students have the opportunity to concentrate in specific areas of study such as Ethical Leadership, Healthcare Administration, or Public Management. The Marist MPA is offered 100% online and as a hybrid of both online and traditional classes at three locations in New York state: Poughkeepsie, Albany, and Queens (NYC).

The Marist College Master's in Public Administration degree program fulfills its mission by applying theory to practice. The graduate degree program emphasizes applied course content through dynamic delivery platforms and is dedicated to the spirit of continuous evaluation and improvement.

Need a 100% Online MPA Graduate Degree Program? Consider Marist.

Commitment to Excellence

The Marist MPA graduate degree program's commitment to excellence in education is demonstrated through the integration of public administration theories with the practice of management in the public and non-profit sectors. Delivered with the assistance of distinctive teaching methods and technologies, courses investigate various perspectives through an integrated curriculum. MPA students acquire insight into important content areas of public administration, law, human resources, policy, management and ethics.

The Master's in Public Administration (MPA) graduate degree emphasizes effective communication, quantitative and qualitative analysis, data-driven decision making, and the use of technology to enhance the leadership in, and management of, public organizations. MPA graduate students learn to motivate themselves and others, and encourage creativity while leading groups through organizational change. Courses, grounded in practice, foster critical thinking, problem solving, innovation, and strategic management.

The Marist master's degree program builds working relationships among Marist MPA faculty, students, alumni, public and non-profit organization leaders, and community partners. Life-long learning is emphasized through a focus on working professionals and the valuable experiences brought to the classroom, whether in person or online. Democratic governance principles are explored as students prepare for leadership roles in a society that requires transparency and accountability from public administrators. Professional ideals support the development of work environments that engender integrity, mutual respect, equity, and fairness. Ethical values are integrated throughout the curriculum to assure students understand critical issues such as working in a global society, cultural competency, sustainability, digital divides, and diversity in the workforce.

Master’s in Public Administration Concentrations

Ethical Leadership MPA Degree Concentration - Ethical leadership has become increasingly important in today's organizations. Public Administration master's degree students enrolled in this graduate-level concentration will learn the basic tenants of leadership and ethical decision-making in preparation to become both effective and ethical leaders while developing strategies for administrating ethical dilemmas that will be present throughout their careers.

Healthcare Administration MPA Degree Concentration - Whether you are already working in the healthcare sector, or new to the field, the Master’s in Public Administration graduate degree in healthcare administration concentration will help you understand the big picture of the industry, become a more effective healthcare manager, develop a deeper understanding of issues facing the healthcare industry, and better understand the unique situations healthcare managers must administer on a daily basis.

Public Management MPA Degree Concentration - Successful and effective management of organizations require a unique set of skills. As part of the master's degree in public administration, the public management concentration helps to prepare current and aspiring managers for organizations of all sizes: from large, governmental agencies to NGOs expanding their reach globally, to small, community-based non-profits.

Nonprofit Management MPA Degree Concentration - As more programs are operated by nonprofit organizations, public managers must understand the "third sector." This concentration provides an overview of how nonprofit agencies differ from public and for-profit entities in mission, governance, funding, and staffing, and will consider current issues facing the nonprofit sector.

Analytics MPA Degree Concentration - A study of the critical issues related to managing data in organizations is explored in this concentration. The concept of data as a resource, the data environment, the database approach, and the need for data modeling are examined in detail.

Contact us to learn more about enrolling in the hybrid-version or 100% online MPA graduate degree program. Earn your Master’s degree geared towards public sector careers in ethical leadership, healthcare, or public management.

Our Business Administration program also has a concentration in Finance, which can be very relevant to students interested in the financial side of the MPA program.

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Christopher Kelly, MPA '14

New York State Bridge AuthorityDirector of Electronic Toll Systems

My goal is to continue my path as a public servant and pursue positions in areas where change is the hardest. After policies are funded and the ribbons are cut, sometimes, organizations and/or people can lose focus on a policy’s effectiveness. I want to be there after the cameras are gone and the ribbons are cut to make sure policies are implemented effectively and work for the organization long-term.